Howdy all, I have recently returned from working the grain harvest on a property located out of Munginidi on the NSW / QLD border. With memories of the snow a very distant memory I was treated to 30 degree plus days and big open skies. The harvest runs in this part of the world from early October through to Christmas depending on rain and other seasonal conditions. In total we (Stuart a Scottish backpacker) and I helped the farm staff harvest over 35,000 acres of Barley, Chick Peas and grain. It was really a very fantastic experience however driving and operating the large farm plant took some serious getting used too. At approximately $600,000 a header we left the combine harvesting to the experts and drove the chaser bin. A large bin (30 tonnes) connected to ... read more

Carissa and I have just arrived home from a two week sojourn to Bali and I have nothing but good things to report. If there is a supposed crisis of the financial variety unfolding in various parts of the globe, somebody obviously forgot to inform the Balinese. Although it took a little adjusting, we soon adapted to the less than hectic pace enjoyed by many of the locals and expats alike. It would seem many Australians call Bali home for months on end, chasing waves and enjoying the good food, warm weather and cheap lodgings dotted throughout this amazing island. Morning and Dusk are just perfect and provide welcome relief from the soaring temperatures which occur from around midday onwards. As is the case throughout the majority of Asia, scooters remain the primary form of transport. ... read more

South Australia's license plate reads: 'The Festival State,' which it would seem is right on the money. Summer here is awash with festivals, events, street parties and sporting events, including the jewel in the city’s crown the Clipsal 500 (V8 Supercars racing through the Adelaide CBD). Carissa and I have enjoyed finding ourselves smack bang in the middle of it all and are sad to be leaving this vibrant part of the world. Despite some soaring temperatures, we have managed to get around and see a lot of Adelaide and its surrounds, including the Barossa, Adelaide Hills and Glenelg’s friendly beaches, which were a welcome relief from the plus 40 degree heat. I have enjoyed my work providing temporary fencing in and around the city for some of the larger events Adelaide has played host to, ... read more

Alas, our time in Tas has drawn to a close. I have provided some key phrases to best sum up our time here in the Apple Isle (if you look closely you may stumble across a common theme): “It’s raining cats and dogs", "Nice weather for ducks", "It’s bucketing down." Yes, the precipitation has been at times intense, but despite the generous proportion of water that has fallen from the heavens Carissa and I have enjoyed our time down under immensely. We have spent the last month in the township of Nubeena, a small coastal hamlet located on the south-western side of the Tasman Peninsula. Carissa has ‘held the fort’ at the local pharmacy in the owner's absence, while I have put my carpentry skills into practice at the Tasmanian Devil Conservation Park. The park is ... read more

Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne: approximately 3.04pm. A collective sigh goes up from the crowd. It seems no one had fancied the Bart Cummings long shot… No.10 Viewed. Along with 106,000 other happy race-goers, my good mate Chris and I, along with his cousins (hailing from Melbourne) made our way to Flemington for one of the world’s most prestigious horse races. Now let me say I know absolutely nothing about horse racing, other than that betting on them is a mug’s game. However, that being said I think I was probably one of only a handful of people cheering on the roughie as Viewed crossed the line first by a whisker. Yes, by absolute fluke I had somehow managed to back a winner, much to the ire of the seasoned punters around me. My $5 bet paid huge ... read more